Lap link



1 1,319,519 March 1, 1927. E'YKEYLLY 1 LAP LINK Filed Sept. 30, 1925 11vV'ENTOR 12 lye/ A TTORNE YS Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

ELBERT KELLY, 0F ANNISTON, ALABAMA.

LAP LINK.

Application filed September My invention relates generally to improvements in draft gear for plows and like agricultural implements, and moreparticularly to a lap link which is adapted to be included in suchdrat't gear, and consists in the combinations, constructions andarrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a lap link which is adapted toconnect a whiliietree hook or like connection with a clevis or likeconnection at the end of the beam of an implement of any one of aplurality of types of construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lap link which isadapted to connect a vertically disposed hook or ring with either ahorizontal or vertical. ring or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lap link of thecharacter described which is adapted to transmit power or mo tiontherethrough between two parts connected. thereby without any side drafton the part to which the power or motion is transmitted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lap link which is ofsimplified construction, which is not likely to be accidentallydisengaged from the parts which it may connect, and which is thoroughlypractical commercially.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a lap link embodying theinvention, establishing connection between a Whittle-tree and a plowbeam,

Figure 2 is a view mainly in plan and partly in horizontal section,showing a portion of the structure exhibited in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lap link.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a length of steel wire orother similar material which possesses considerableinherent strength.This length of wire is bent intermediate its ends substantially into U-shape to provide a halt loop indicated at 1 having a pair of sidemembers or arms 2 and 3, respectively. The members 2 and 3 are bent intoU-shape adjacent to their extremities to provide hooks indicated at 4;and 5,

so, 1925. Serial No. 59,586.

respectively. The end portion ofthe arm 2 is bentdownwardly andrearwardly to form the-hook 4, while the corresponding end portion ofthe arm 3 is bent laterallyoutward and rearward to form the hook 5,whereby the hook 4 will be vertically disposed with the .bill portionthereof downward and the hook 5 will be horizontally disposed with thebill portion thereof at the outer side thereof. The bill portions of thehooks 4 and 5 terminate substantially flush with each othen The books iand 5 are adapted for engagement with connections which lie in planesextending at right angles to each other. The hooks l and. 5. are spacedapart and held against spreading and the entrances thereto are closed bya slidable latching member 6. The latter comprises a substantially L-shapedor angular strip of any suitable material, such as. relativelystiff leather or resilient metal. One arm of the angular strip (3iglonger than the other arm and is provided with a slot or elongatedaperture 7 through which the hook 5 extends, the end or the bill portionthereof terminating in the slot. The shorter arm of the angular strip 6is provided with a slot or elongated opening 8 which lies in a planeextending at right angles to that of the slot or elongated opening 7,and through which the hook 4 extends, the .end of the bill portion ofthe hook i terminating in the slot 8. A pin 9 extending verticallythrough the longer arm of the strip 6 and through an opening in alaterally. widened portion 10 of the inner arm or body of the hook 5securesthe strip 6 against sliding on the arm 3 and tends to hold thelonger arm of the strip and the shorter arm oi the strip in closingrelation to the hooks 5 and 4;, respectively. 7 Since the strip 6 ismade eta material which possesses inherent resiliency and is flexible,the free end portionot the longer arm of the strip may be flexed toexpose the free end of the outer arm or' bill of the hook 5, so that thelatter may be engaged with or disengaged from a suitable connection. Theshorter arm of the strip 8 likewise maybe flexed to expose the free endof the lower arm or bill of the hook 4: so that the latter may beengaged with or disengaged from a suitable connection. If required, thefree end of the shorter arm of the strip 6 may be flexed to an extentsuf'ficient to temporarily disengage thehook 4,

or disengaged from the half loop 1.

When the free portions of the latching strip 8 have not been flexed fromthe positions exhibited in Figure 3, the bend portion of the half loop 1will extend laterally of one face of the strip 6, while the hooks t and5 will extend laterally of the opposite face of the strip.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood. When it is desiredtoconnect parts having attaching portions or members lying in parallelplanes, the half loop 1 and the hook 5 are employed while the half loop1 and the hook 4: are employed when it is desired to connect partshaving attaching portions or members lying .in'planes extending at rightangles to each other. In Figure 1, I show a plow having a beam 13provided at its free end with a clevis or attaching portion 14 havingavertical series of horizontal openings '15 (Fig. 1). A whifiie-tree 16is provided with a hook 17 which is vertically disposed. The hook 17 isengaged with the half loop 1 and thehook 5 is inserted in any one of theopenings 15 to connect the whiifle-tree with the plow beam. Since a pulltransmitted from the Whittle-tree through the half loop 1 and the hook 5to the plow beam will be transmitted along the arm common to the halfloop 1 and hook 5, it will be manifest that no side draft on the plowbeam will result from a straight forward pull on the Whittle-tree hook.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the vertically disposedwhiflle-treehook 17 may be connected with a horizontal series ofvertical openings in a clevis or attaching portion of a plow beam bymaking use of the half loop 1 and hookt, the Whittle-tree hook thenbeing engaged with the half loop 1 and the hook 4 being engaged with anyone of the vertical openings of the horizontal series in the attachingportion or clevis of the plow beam.

The inherent resiliency of the latching strip 6 and the frictionalengagement thereof with the hooks 4 and 5 will tend to hold the freeportions of the strip in position to close the hooks 4 and 5 at thenormally open ends of the latter so that accidental disengagement fromthe part with which either of the hooks 4 and 5 is connected isprecluded.

Obviously many modifications and adaptations of the form: of the devicedisclosed herein may be provided and I therefore con sider as my own allsuch modifications and adaptations as fairly fall Within the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim 7 1. A lap link comprising a pair of substantially U-shapedhooks constituting attaching portions, one arm of each of said hooksbeing longer than the other arm thereof, a half loop having arms intowhich the longer arms of said hooks are merged,

the free ends of the hooks terminating substantially flush with eachother, and a latching member for closing said halfloop and said hooks,said loop and said hooks extending in opposite directions.

2. A lap link comprising two substantially U-shaped hooks, a half loopmerging the adjacent arms of said hooks each into the other andextending beyond a line extending transversely between the free ends ofsaid ELBERT KELLY. V

